Munchkin

Short-legged cats turn up repeatedly in the record. A 1944 British veterinary report described four generations of them, though that line vanished during World War II ^[1]. Others were seen in Stalingrad in 1956, New England in 1970 and Louisiana in the 1980s ^[1]. In 1983 Sandra Hockenedel found a pregnant short-legged female she named Blackberry. The breed was built from Blackberry and Toulouse, a male from one of her litters, with domestic outcrosses to keep the gene pool diverse ^[1]. TICA took the Munchkin into its New Breed programme in 1994, and the breed reached championship status in May 2003 ^[1].

• Legs: short, because the mutation shortens the long bones; there may be slight bowing ^[1].
• Body: a normal adult size. Apart from the legs, a Munchkin looks like any other cat ^[1].
• Coat: a medium-plush shorthair or a semi-long, silky longhair. The two differ only in coat ^[1].
• Colours: all colours and patterns ^[1].
• Weight: about 5–7 lb for females and 7–10 lb for males, per TICA ^[1].

Munchkins are sociable and spirited, and love to run, chase and play ^[1]. They're curious and self-assured, explore every corner, and have a magpie habit of stashing small shiny objects ^[1]. Many learn to fetch and walk on a leash ^[1]. For all that energy, they're happy to climb into bed for a snuggle, and they suit families with children and other pets ^[1].

• Comb shorthairs weekly and longhairs twice a week to prevent tangles ^[1].
• Trim nails, clean ears and brush teeth with a pet toothpaste ^[1].
• A low-sided water bowl or a fountain suits short legs ^[1].
• Steps, ramps or low shelves help with getting up high without big jumps. iCatCare suggests the same for cats with joint problems generally ^[6].

• The short-leg mutation: dominant; kittens with two copies are thought to die before birth ^[2].
• Joints: UFAW says the short legs may put abnormal loads on joints and raise the risk of painful osteoarthritis, though this hasn't been evaluated scientifically ^[2]. TICA states the breed is not more prone to arthritis and that the spine is unaffected ^[1]. Osteoarthritis may need X-rays to diagnose ^[2].
• Lifespan: TICA estimates 15–18+ years ^[1]. We found no independent longevity study.

Watch for reluctance to jump, stiffness or reduced activity, and talk to your vet about any specific concern.

Don't confuse with…

• Minuet: another short-legged breed that TICA lists separately ^[5].
• Scottish Fold: also carries a cartilage- and bone-affecting mutation, which shows in its folded ears ^[6].

• The name comes from the Munchkins of The Wizard of Oz ^[1].
• Munchkins often sit up on their hind legs like rabbits to look around ^[1].
• Short-legged cats appear in a British veterinary report from 1944 ^[1].